INDIANA: Creationism Bill Advances

A GOP-sponsored bill which would allow the teaching of creationism in public schools has passed out of the Indiana Senate Education Committee.

Creationism, a theory with origins in the Bible's Book of Genesis, suggests that divine power created man, animal, and all earthly matters. The idea is an opposing view to the science-based theory of evolution. If the bill passes, Indiana school districts will have the option to include creationism as part of science courses, Indianapolis' WXIN reports. The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Dennis Kruse, head of the Indiana State Senate's Education Committee. Kruse previously proposed similar legislation in 2000 when he served as a state representative. That bill never made it past a committee.

Several other states are considering similar bills.